favorite thing friday - flowers

Perhaps you're already familiar with this book, if not - you should definitely consider adding it to your library. We have our copy (actually copies because we now have more than one) in our bathrooms and sometimes, when we're in said bathroom for an extended span of time, we will peruse the 511 "Suggestions, Observations, and Reminders on How to Live a Happy and Rewarding Life."

Suggestion #97 recommends, "Always have something beautiful in sight, even if it's just a daisy in a jelly glass." I'm a huge advocate of the theory that having something beautiful in sight REALLY CAN have a positive impact on your outlook on life.

Shown on the picture below...

On the left: vibrant hydrangeas from my Girl Scout troop. These, along with a very generous gift certificate for a massage were their tokens of appreciation for my two years of Daisy leadership.

On the right: deep red carnations from my sweet four-year-old son, Henry. Charlie took him grocery shopping today and he insisted on buying these for his "Honey." (aka: Me.)

Sigh. Gestures like this are what totally eclipse those moments when he does things that make me wonder, "What the heck? Seriously?!" (Case in point: Last week, we had a landscape architect at our house who discovered Henry hiding behind a hedge. As soon as he was spotted he yelled, "PRIVACY PLEASE!!! I"m going POOOOOOP!" Indeed ... he was.)

Even when I buy flowers for myself, they make me feel glad to be alive.

Thank you God ... for flowers.

And more importantly: for little boys and their moments of extraordinary sweetness.

My Current Favorite Quote...

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.

~William Penn

Another Favorite Quote

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." A.A. Milne (from "Winnie the Pooh")